Archived: Greenwich Dental Referral Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19 May 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Background

Greenwich Referral Dental Practice is located in the London borough of Greenwich. The practice has two treatment rooms, waiting and reception area and a patient toilet; the facilities are situated on the ground and basement floors. The ground floor is suitable for disabled access.

The practice provides NHS and private dental treatment to children and adults. The practice offers orthodontic, periodontics, oral hygiene, implants and endodontics dental treatments and is open Monday Friday 9am – 5.30pm.

The staff structure consists of a principal dentist, three associate dentists, six dental nurses/receptionist which includes a head dental nurse, hygienists, orthodontic therapist and a practice manager.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

We received 33 CQC comment cards completed by patients and spoke with three patients and one relative during our inspection visit. Patients and relatives we spoke with, and those who completed comment cards, were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.

• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Patients told us they felt listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.

• The practice had implemented procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The principal dentist had a vision for the practice and maintaining care standards; staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

• Governance arrangements and audits were effective in improving the quality and safety of the services.